Old Pocklingtonian 2020/2021 | Page 31

PERSONALIA

1980 - 1989

Guy Boersma ( 79-84 ) has just become a Visiting Professor of Translational Experimental Medicine at University of Surrey , as a result of successful collaborations in his current role as Managing Director of Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network . He has spent most of his working life in and around the NHS : as an NHS Director , as a provider of services to the NHS and as a Senior Civil Servant .

Simon Clarke ( 80-87 ) returned from Dubai to repatriate to the UK in July . Although semi-retiring from full-time corporate life , he continues to work as an advisor in the FMCG food sector . He is happy to talk to students about careers in multinational food businesses and also the life of an expat living and working abroad if any younger OPs or Pocklington students would be interested in finding out more .

Simon Hudson ( 74-81 ) reported that Cloud2 , the company he founded twelve and a half years ago , was acquired in May 2021 by IT , cloud and digital transformation specialist , BCN Group , to boost its capabilities in the public and healthcare sectors . Bradford-based Cloud2 is a data analytics and process automation specialist developing cloud-based products to solve complex data and compliance issues for public sector and healthcare organisations across the UK . Although Simon largely stepped out of the day-to-day leadership of the firm in 2019 , he maintained his engagement in the company until it was sold . Simon continues to lead Kinata Ltd , the clinical technology business he founded in 2012 connecting GPs with specialist clinicians through its online platform , Kinesis .

Richard Vergette ( 74-81 ) wrote a new short audio drama during the first lockdown featuring June Brown from Eastenders . In her first role since leaving the soap , June plays Margey , an elderly mother separated from her adult son with Down ’ s Syndrome , William ( played by Sam Barnard ).

1990 - 1999

The Revd Canon Charlie Allen ( 92-97 ), Canon Chancellor of Durham Cathedral , visited school in July to pre-record the introduction to the Cathedral ’ s Online Quiet Day . The programme which aired on 30 July via Facebook livestream , focused on OP William Wilberforce with social justice as the theme and can be viewed via Durham Cathedral ’ s website .

Alcuin Johnson ( 83-93 ), a British Army Officer , was recently promoted to Colonel . He is currently serving alongside the US Army in Fort Leavenworth , Kansas on their Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Programme , a 12-month course for senior US officers to prepare them for future strategic leadership roles .

Lindsay Oliver ( 93-98 ) set up the New Beginnings Peer Support charity in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council Officer Mel Milner , to support women survivors of abuse and their children . The charity successfully acquired National Lottery funding in 2020 for a three-month self-care project as well as securing some core cost funding from Two Ridings Coronavirus Community Fund .

Andrew Pennock ( 88-95 ) has been a Police Officer for over 22 years and currently serves in Kent Police . He is also involved as a Force Ambassador and Support Volunteer with the Police support charity , Police Care UK , which provides financial , emotional , and practical support to serving / veteran members of the UK Police , and their families , who sustain physical or mental harm , or are killed , as a result of their policing duties . Andrew was a finalist in the 2019 national Police Care UK volunteer awards ceremony in both the ‘ Support Volunteer of the Year ’ and ‘ Volunteer of the Year ’ award categories , as well as receiving a Spotlight Award in the 2020 national awards for his contribution to the charity . In March 2020 , Andrew and a colleague ran the London Vitality Big Half Marathon , raising over £ 1,600 in support of Police Care UK . Andrew said : “ Those who remember me from school may recall that I detested cross country runs !” Andrew is also

a Recruitment Ambassador for the Police and has offered to speak to Sixth Form students and OPs who may be interested in finding out more about routes into policing .

Christian Tate ( 84-91 ) is very proud of his new book ‘ An answer For Everything – 200 infographics to explain the world ’ which he designed and illustrated in its entirety . Christian said of the book : “ It ’ s the culmination of over 30 years of design experience that can be traced back to my time studying Art and Design at Pocklington , where Pete Edwards ’ art department must have been one of the earliest places to offer students a chance to use computers to create graphics .” The book , published by Bloomsbury , will be on sale from 28 October 2021 .

2000 - 2009

Adrian Calef ( 99-00 ), former Silvestri scholar , appeared on episode four of the ITV quiz show ‘ Game of Talents ’ where game shows and talent shows collide to create a guessing game where contestants aim to guess the talents of eight performers . The panel did not guess that Adrian is a talented cellist !

Alexandra Dariescu ( 02-03 ), former Silvestri scholar and now professional concert pianist , performed Beethoven ’ s majestic ‘ Emperor ’ Piano Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall in the first of their live performance summertime concerts this year . In September , she got the call to step in at 24 hours ’ notice to perform Rachmaninov 2 at the Royal Albert Hall for Classic FM Live , as part of the venue ’ s 150th anniversary season .

Hannah Dawes ( 01-08 ), Head of Learning for Life and teacher of Theology , Philosophy and Religion at Oundle School , launched a new weekly , free-to-access web series , The Exchange , which

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